Jim Collins Foundation Announces 2017 Grant Recipients

April 1, 2017 (New York, NY) – The Jim Collins Foundation (JCF), a national nonprofit organization with a mission to fund gender-affirming surgeries, is pleased to announce our three 2017 grant recipients, and our new grant cycle, starting April 5, 2017. This year JCF awarded two general fund grants and one matching fund grant. Our General Fund grants cover 100% of the medical fees associated with gender-affirming surgery. Our matching grant is from the Krysallis Anne Hembrough Legacy Fund (Hembrough Grants) which covers 50% of the medical fees associated with gender-affirming surgery; the recipient provides the other 50% using their own financial source. Jim Collins Foundation 2017 general grant recipients include Angie and Christyna Allen, and our Hembrough grant recipient is Cael Neary. Please go to our website to read their amazing stories.

“We are pleased to support our grant recipients: Angie, Christyna, and Cael,” said Ava Arnett and Julie Thibodaux, JCF board members. “The Jim Collins Foundation continues to hear from past year grantees about how we helped change their lives, and are honored to do the same or our 2017 grantees.”

More than 200 people applied for this year’s grant, demonstrating the continued urgency and financial need. With the addition of this year’s grantees, the Jim Collins Foundation has awarded a total of 15 grants since 2011. Our organization wouldn’t be able to continue without the hundreds of individual donors, including legacies and estates from around the country, and pro-bono services provided this year by Dr. Christine McGinn.

“I feel extraordinarily blessed and thankful to have been awarded the Jim Collins Foundation grant out of hundreds of applicants. After feeling so disconnected with my body my entire life, I now know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel,” said 2017 grantee Angie.

Our 2017 Hembrough grantee, Cael said, “Thank you to the donors and volunteers of the Jim Collins Foundation, and to the friends and family who donated to my brief GoFundMe campaigns in the past, for making top surgery, what felt like an unattainable dream, possible in my near future. In all its forms, your support has changed and saved my life.”

“At the JCF they believe in me, they believe in us, as people. I’m thankful for the hardships I have gone through on this journey because it shows me, as well as everyone else, anything is possible if you need or want it enough,” said 2017 grantee Christyna.
For press inquiries and interviews, contact info@jimcollinsfoundation.org. For more information on the Jim Collins Foundation, grantees, the issues, and to donate, visit jimcollinsfoundation.org.